Islamabad: Only 17 out of 39 federal government divisions, operating under 34 ministries, have disclosed the composition of their Inquiry Committees for Protection against Harassment at the Workplace on their official websites. The remaining 22 divisions have not made this information publicly available online, representing 53 percent of the total divisions surveyed.
According to Free and Fair Election Network, the disclosure of this information falls under Sections 5(1)(b) and 5(1)(c) of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. These sections require public bodies to proactively publish notifications and substantive and procedural rules and regulations of general application, including manuals and policies used by their employees, through appropriate means such as uploading the information on the internet. The responsibility for ensuring such disclosures rests with the secretary concerned of each federal ministry or division.
The importance of digital access to this information has increased significantly, particularly in the post-COVID-19 workplace environment, where a substantial portion of official communication and interaction has shifted to digital and online platforms. Under the Protection against Harassment of the Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, a three-member Inquiry Committee must be constituted in every organization to inquire into complaints of workplace harassment. The committee, which includes representatives of senior management and employees, is mandated to inquire into complaints in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Act.
An assessment by FAFEN of websites of 39 federal divisions, as listed in the Rules of Business 1973, revealed that divisions such as Establishment, National Security, and Communications have published the notifications of the inquiry committees constituted under the 2010 Act on their websites. Conversely, 22 divisions have not uploaded such notifications. This assessment was conducted on January 9, 2026.